WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) - Halloween is just days away and state leaders are recommending new ways to still have fun, while staying safe.

Streets and sidewalks in local neighborhoods are usually filled with little witches and super heroes on Halloween. But what will it look like this year during a pandemic?

"Our plans for this year, we're really not going to do very much different than we normally would. We usually pass out candy in our neighborhood,” says Kristi Burchfiel, who plans to still hand out candy. 

Everyone we talked to expects a crowd waiting at their door, just like every other year.

"I just think it's important that we try to maintain as much consistently with our life and our normalcy. There's been so much disruption with kids this year, especially with school and all that different, that we ought to do some of the fun things they enjoy,” says Burchfiel.

But Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Doctor Lee Norman suggests a different approach. ”Door to door trick or treating is not something that we would recommend this year, especially in groups of people."

Norman says people can still have fun. He suggests drive-by or online Halloween costume contests and drive-in Halloween movies. "All you little ghosts and goblins do want to have a good time and I think that's really important that you do."

Local health experts tell us you can still wear typical Halloween masks, but you must make sure to wear cloth masks underneath, or you're not properly protecting yourself or others.

"Kids are wearing masks and gloves and stuff anyway, so I don't see where that's a problem,” says Connie Resley, who plans to still hand out candy. 

Burchfiel is excited to see the kids having fun this weekend. "We still want to follow all the safety protocols that we can. It will all be pre-packaged, pre-wrapped candy, it normally was anyway and people that are comfortable with it, we'll hand those out and have our masks on."

KDHE recommends normal hand hygiene and social distancing for families who still choose to trick-or-treat in any capacity. 

For a complete list of KDHE holiday guidelines click here.